Have you ever wondered how Baryshnikov was made? Here's the REAL DEAL.

We are the world's first online academy to instruct in the exact, pure & complete Teaching Method of Classical Dance, founded by Agrippina Vaganova.

Our courses are taught by Professor Emeritus, Peggy Willis-Aarnio, a world-leading authority on The Teaching Method of Classical Dance in the direct, pedagogical lineage with Agrippina Vaganova, Vera Kostrovitskaya and John Barker. Scroll down to learn more...

Fun learning at Peggy Willis-Aarnio's

18th International Ballet Teacher's Congress Hosted by

the Harmonic Motion School of Classical Ballet, Sharon Steele, Director, in Rockwall, Texas.

Sponsored by Ballet Uni and The Willis Ballet, July 2015.

This Congress is in Memory of Renee Gillenwater from Killeen, Tx,

who touched the lives of hundreds of ballet students and who was a

pedagogical student of Dr. Willis-Aarnio. We miss you Renee. Rest in Peace.

Photo memories from the 18th Congress.

Student Workshop.

"To Dance is to Live....."

The world is drowning in a sea of misinformation about what classical ballet is and the correct way that it needs to be taught!

The good news is, this is your golden opportunity torise above the rest.

Check all that apply...

You hope that true classical ballet makes a comeback because you are sad with the way our fast-paced culture and focus on instant-gratification has permeated the ballet world. When you look at the "tricks" dancers often perform today without any real feeling or finesse, you wonder, "What happened to real, honest-to-goodness ARTISTRY?"

You are really passionate about what you teach because you know that the quality training you offer is invaluable, but you just wish that there was some way to light a fire underneath your student's behinds to get them excited and interested too!

You know that you are already an extraordinary teacher, but you still have many questions about the details, and you really want to take your teaching to the next level. You love your students so much that you want to help ALL of them to achieve extension, grace, strength, endurance, ballon, plasticity, expressiveness, etc.... not only the naturally gifted ones.

You are frustrated that you only have so much time with your students each week, and many of them may be studying with other teachers besides you who are not always so attentive. You wish you could get your students on board to train with you every day, or at least find a way to increase the efficiency of your program so that you can accomplish more in the time that you have.

You are fed up with the so-called "reality" that injuries are "par for the course" in ballet, and you are just so sickof dissension and elitism among other ballet teachers. You know that there just has to be a way to teach that is the best and the safest for ALL dancers–not just the select, "perfect" few–and you want to learn the truth.

Do you sometimes think that maybe, just maybe, every question you ever had about teaching ballet could be answered, if only you had access to the correct information?

16th Annual Classical Ballet International Teachers' Congress

(Summer 2013)

The True Method Teacher's Course™ is the world's first online academy to completely take the mystery out of teaching ballet.

We instruct in the exact, scientifically developed Teaching Method of Classical Dance. Our courses are taught by Professor Emeritus, Peggy Willis-Aarnio, a world-leading authority on The Teaching Method of Classical Dance in the direct, pedagogical lineage with Agrippina Vaganova, the founder, Vera Kostrovitskaya, Vaganova's First Assistant for over 3 decades and John Barker, Kostrovitskaya's Premiere Pupil for over 2 decades. I.e., Vaganova, Kostrovitskaya, Barker and Willis-Aarnio ----YOU!

A recent study showed that, on average,50% of pre-professional ballet dancers are injured each year.*

75% of injuries are atraumatic and due to overuse. In other words, these aren't injuries because of tripping on stage or falling out of a lift... these are mostly academic injuries.

THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. EV-ER.

Vera Kostrovitskaya (Vaganova's first assistant for nearly 3 decades, and the one who further detailed and completed her work to create the first and only teaching method entirely based on physiological, as well as aesthetic, principles) stated:

"It is insufficient instruction which produces injuries."

The big problem is that most ballet teachers have not studied teaching method at all. There are whole online forums dedicated to teachers discussing how to teach ballet. Yet, if you ask any given teacher for their opinion about something as basic as the correct execution of even the most basic step (such as plié) the answers will greatly differ from teacher to teacher.

That's a HUGE PROBLEM.

It would be a problem for ANY discipline if all the "experts" disagreed, but this is especially true in ballet when the goal of the classical ballet artist is to achieve mastery over a highly specific, codified set of movements!

The few who have studied teaching method have either studied OTHER methods which are not up-to-date and scientifically based, or have only been exposed to TINY bits and pieces of this method... They have not had access to this pure and complete information.

If they only had this knowledge, then there would be no academic injuries because, when implemented correctly, the Teaching Method of Classical Dance is designed to prevent injuries before they can even occur!

There is one simple solution to this problem. It is like a beacon of light guiding you to the heart and home of Classical Dance.

Teachers need a codified system that

ACTUALLY WORKS!

That system exists today. It was carefully, lovingly and meticulously crafted in a place where the heart of ballet beats the loudest. The home of Classical Dance Teaching Method.

RUSSIA.

In an interview on his Late Show, David Letterman asked Natalia Makarova (former prima ballerina of the Kirov, called “the finest ballerina of her generation in the West”):

"What is the relationship between ballet and Russia?"

She replied, “The same.”

Indeed, ballet and Russia are inseparable, and this is largely due to the life of one woman:

AGRIPPINA VAGANOVA.

The world-famous and ground-breaking Russian pedagogue, Agrippina Vaganova, recognized that simply following what your own teacher did before you is just not good enough. In order to achieve the best and the healthiest results for their students, teachers need a real game plan.

Fortunately for us, Vaganova pioneered the first teaching method to be based on scientific, physiological principals, combining the best of the French and the Italian schools. She was the first to analyze the allegro–the most difficult steps in the classical repertoire, contained in the Grand Pas de Deux (a "choreographic poem in four parts")–in order to derive teaching method (before, the easier adagio was analyzed to derive teaching method).

Vaganova's students, and the countless students of her pedagogical pupils, have proven the effectiveness of this teaching method, time and time again.

Professor Emeritus Peggy Willis-Aarnio's visual dossier.

A message from Peggy Willis-Aarnio.

Here's why The True Method Teacher's Course™ is YOUR BEST GAME PLAN for engineering the

Top Class Ballet Artist:

Backed by Science

Vaganova tested the effectiveness of her methods at her school as if in a “laboratory”, and her best friends and colleagues were scientists, professors and leading experts in the fields of education, biomechanics, physiology of exercise and kinesiology. The resulting method–completed by her first assistant for nearly 30 years, Vera Kostrovitskaya, with the collaboration of countless other methodologists–is the only method which is based entirely upon physiological, as well as aesthetic, principles. It is "not one whit arbitrary."

COOL FACT:One of the "hallmarks" of this method, which the Russian critics noticed in Vaganova's students, is the strong lower back. This strength allowed each artist to have greater freedom of expression, and each of Vaganova's students were entirely individual. This is just one example of how teaching method works to develop the artist who is "free of their technique", and free of the fear of injury, to fully express themselves.

Because of these sound principals, which are still being backed by current scientific research, you no longer have to accept injuries as "par for the course" in ballet. Correct instruction means there should be ZERO academic injuries.

The list of the greatest dancers ever seen goes on and on, but they all had one thing in common: They were each trained by expert teachers utilizing this codified system.

Vaganova’s life’s work changed forever the future of classical ballet, not only in Russia but throughout the world. When the Russian artists first came to America, nothing like them had ever been seen before. Even today, these artists are the stuff of legends, and no other teaching method has even come close to producing dancers at the same caliber.

These dancers have proven by their unmatched technical virtuosity and genuine artistry that this is the most contemporary teaching method ever developed and tested in the world to date.

Applicable Anytime, Anywhere

Vaganova did not claim her discoveries as "hers" or "Russia's" any more than gravity was "Newton's" or "England's"... She wanted this to be the UNIVERSAL method shared with the world. Because it is consistent with human biomechanics, this method works for ALL dancers, no matter what their age, race, or body type.

(Well, admittedly, it wouldn't work on alien life forms, only human earthlings... Sorry, martians!)

By correctly utilizing this systematic procedure, you will have the potential to help every single one of your students achieve their dreams of becoming a high-class ballet artist, not only the naturally gifted.

So, before you start feigning a Russian accent, or decide to add "-ova" to your last name (the implication being that if you have a Russian sounding name you are immediately awe-inspiring),

Hang tight: Professor Willis-Aarnio has got you covered, and she will answer any and all questions you have so that you are fully equipped to captivate and astonish your students, parents and audiences!

Acclaim for True Method Teacher's Course™

Sharon Steele

President, Harmonic Motion School of Classical Ballet, Rockwall, TX“I have built my ballet program around Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s teacher’s courses and student workshops, and I am proud to say that my dancers are strong, injury-free and absolutely beautiful. I looked long and hard for something that would take all the mystery out of each ballet exercise. Teaching method has enabled me to become a more confident teacher. My dancers love the lessons and are very excited to see their progress.”

Marina Medvetskaya

Artistic Director, St. Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre, Russia

"I was totally captivated by the presentation of Professor Peggy Willis-Aarnio, through her lectures and video/live presentations of demonstration lessons. The true procedure for training in Classical Ballet can be learned at the most knowledgeable and capable hands of Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio, and nobody can explain, teach or pass on this precious knowledge better than she."

Debra Sayles-Senchak

Artistic Director, Infinity Ballet Conservatory and Theatre, Apex, NC

“The teachers’ congress taught by Professor Peggy Willis-Aarnio is a total treasure to the world of teaching classical dance. It offers so many tools to help organize each step of the way in preparing lessons to build dancers to bring out their fullest potentials. Useful for every level of teacher, and a wonderful guide for building a solid school.”

Lysia Dawn

Principal Dancer, Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre & Senior Ballet Mistress, Premiere Dance Academy, Calgary, AB“I started back to my own ballet rehearsals last week and it felt great. What I noticed most was my focus. I have a very clear mental ballet pathway. I have always had a good understanding, but the information has not always been so clear as it is now. Now, I feel more confident, and your attention to detail has opened my eyes to be a better student.”

Barry Trammell

Director, Vero Classical Ballet, Vero Beach, FL“Mrs. Willis-Aarnio’s teacher’s course is unparalleled in its usefulness and detail. When you implement the method you learn from her course you will see stunning results within two weeks of daily training. It is truly astonishing and the course is an absolute treasure!!!”

Mary Fernandez

Owner, Ballet Uni™ (balletuni.com)

"Prof. Willis-Aarnio helped me to do the impossible–TURN OUT!! I could hardly believe how this training made me feel so confident in my own skin, and how all the "body flaws" I thought were crippling me just melted away... I can't thank her enough for not only being a shining example and guiding light in a world clouded with misinformation, but for being a true example of kindness and generosity that I think we would all do well to follow."

Save your spot in the Fall 2015 Courses!

Why The True Method™

Teacher's Course vs. some other course?

Yeah, yeah, we know what you're thinking... you've heard it all before.

So many teachers and programs claim to teach the "Vaganova Method" or the "Russian Method" (neither is the proper name, by the way; this misunderstanding is a result of the mistranslation of the title of Vaganova's book into English).

But you smell something fishy in the water.

Especially when teachers all disagree about what this system is, how can you tell who really knows the truth?

The sad fact of the matter is, most people are confused the heck out.

Some people go to Russia to take a brief course for International students and receive a certification, which honestly is inadequate: these kinds of courses are purely an introduction to the syllabus and not nearly a complete education on how to teach, which is what is needed in order to understand and utilize this system properly.

Some people HAVE had access to this information, yet choose to mess with this perfect recipe by "making it their own" and teaching their own "half-baked" version. We don't do that. EVER.

What's even sadder, even though the great Russian schools still offer superior schooling to those of us who have ZERO method,

The Russians themselves have forgotten the details!!!!!

As the late world-famous dance critic, Clive Barnes, said:

“Russia has forgotten more than we ever knew."

In recent years (since the late 60's to be exact), the Vaganova Ballet Academy began adopting other “methods” (experimental ideas, really) which were already tried in Russia before, mostly by amateur teachers, and which were shown to fail… How confusing for the rest of us, who already know so little about it!

The good news is, we DO know the details and we will pass them on to YOU. How is that even possible? Read on...

Our pedagogical program gives you the competitive edge because of our unique pedigree– a direct pedagogical lineage to Vaganova herself.

We guarantee that what you learn in The True Method Teacher's Course™ is NOT an imitation, an alteration or even an incomplete picture of the method she founded.

That’s because our courses are taught by Professor Emeritus Peggy Willis-Aarnio, the pedagogical pupil of John Barker–the principal pedagogical student of Vera Kostrovitskaya, and the recipient of Vaganova’s legacy in the West.

Here's how this "pedagogical lineage" thing works:

Vaganova → Kostrovitskaya → Barker → Willis-Aarnio → YOU!

Each of the people listed above actually studied pedagogy (how to teach ballet to children– not just how to dance) extensively under the person before them. That means YOU TOO will be in a direct pedagogical lineage with Vaganova!! (Are you excited?? We're excited!!)

You see, this is so important because DANCING ballet and TEACHING ballet are two completely separate professions.

This lineage is also important because, for Barker alone, Kostrovitskaya wrote a much more detailed version of the syllabus than even what was published in her book, School of Classical Dance. When you enroll in The True Method Teacher's Course™ you get access to the most detailed syllabus, PLUS, unlike other courses, we will teach you exactly how to USE the syllabus in your classroom.

This is KEY to being able to train dancers the way Baryshnikov was trained.

In addition to explaining the syllabus in detail, Kostrovitskaya carefully taught Barker–a Westerner–all of the HUNDREDS of rules and THOUSANDS of details which comprise the method. She knew that Russia was already beginning to suffer from "the grass is greener on the other side of the border" syndrome, and she did not want this precious information to become lost.

Because when these details are lost, the syllabus loses it’s true meaning.

Think of the syllabus as a well-charted map, but the details of teaching method are like the compass. As many of us who have attempted to teach with only the "map" have come to realize, the syllabus without direction is useless to get a person from Point A to Point B!

So how can you tell who REALLY knows the Teaching Method of Classical Dance (and who is just a phony)?

WHAT YOU GET when you enroll in

The True Method Teacher's Course™

Unlike other courses where information is thrown at you and you are expected to understand it on your own, our courses are very small, intimate gatherings of like-minded teachers where you are given the utmost personal attention.

Rather than simply watching a video alone, our online sessions are held LIVE and are highly interactive with Q&A sessions. Homework is not only assigned but is also critiqued so that you will have all the tools you need to create your own physiologically correct lesson plans.

With each online course, you will receive:

5-6 highly interactive, online, LIVE instructional group sessions with Prof. Willis-Aarnio, where you will receive a complete education and de-mystification about how to use teaching method to train top-quality, professional Classical Dance Artists.

1 one-on-one coaching call with Prof. Willis-Aarnio for 60 min. to answer your burning questions and provide you with personalized advice for how teaching method can help you in your own unique situation.

The course packet, which includes a copy of Kostrovitskaya's most detailed version of the syllabus (not published anywhere in the world, even in Russia!!), Willis-Aarnio's original Lesson Plan Template and "At A Glance" Guide, exclusive articles, and much more.

Sit in on 5-6 recorded (or in some cases live), full-length demonstration lessons taught by Prof. Willis-Aarnio, with her LIVE commentary and explanations.

About Professor Emeritus

Peggy Willis-Aarnio

Peggy Willis-Aarnio is Professor Emeritus and on the Graduate Faculty at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. She is an authority on Russian Classical Ballet and an internationally recognized dance historian, author, choreographer and teacher of teachers. As well as conducting educational activities throughout the year, she also hosts the Annual International Teacher's Congress and student ballet workshop. She is the first leading authority to conduct online teaching sessions, for the first time enabling anyone from virtually anywhere in the world to attend!

As one of the most dedicated students of Mr. John Barker, Peggy Willis-Aarnio became the “transmitter” of this invaluable information. After completing his courses many times over, Prof. Willis-Aarnio was discovered by the legendary prima ballerina of the Kirov Ballet, Galina Mezentseva, as one of the few teachers still alive today who understand this teaching method. Mezentseva was so impressed by the depth of Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s knowledge of this exact training, which she had received herself during her days as a student, that she got Prof. Willis-Aarnio an invitation to the Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg to obtain her qualification as a “teacher of teachers”, the highest qualification for a teacher of classical dance (1992, endorsed by Valentina Roumiantseva, head of the methodology department).

She is also the first American to choreograph new classical ballet works for major Russian ballet companies. Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s original choreography has been seen in over 400 cities in North America, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, and in Europe, including Russia and Malta.

Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s work over the past 40 years–through her teaching of thousands of students, her educational products and her international teacher’s congresses–has done much to prevent this precious information from becoming forgotten. Her life's work is doing everything in her power to carry on the proven procedure Vaganova began, which was Kostrovitskaya’s great wish before her passing. It was also Vaganova’s own wish for there to be teaching congresses held all over the world, and that wish has now come true through Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s pioneering online teacher’s courses!

Artists of the St. Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya photographed by Dennis Massey, courtesy of the Willis Ballet. Students of Peggy Willis-Aarnio courtesy of the Willis Ballet.

Trademark notice:

The True Method™ Teacher's Course is a trademark of the Willis Ballet, used with permission by Ballet Uni™ when referring to the courses taught by Prof. Peggy Willis-Aarnio. This trademark is not to be confused with the method which is taught, which is properly referred to as The Teaching Method of Classical Ballet (founded by Agrippina Vaganova and completed by Vera Kostrovitskaya).